The 16th production of the GMG English Drama Group the fringe, in co-operation with the P-seminary English Drama is a timeless American comedy/satire by two of the most successful comedy writers from the 1930s and 1940s. It has also been filmed.
Famous radio journalist Sheridan Whiteside meets disaster in Mesalia, Ohio, when he accepts a dinner invitation to the Stanleys’ home. On his way out, he slips on a small piece of ice and fractures his hip. As a result, he has to stay there for several weeks – cancelling all other plans and making him the most angry and disagreeable residential patient any doctor or host might imagine. His first sentence, when he is wheeled out of his bedroom in a wheelchair, is: “I may vomit.”
(Robert Imhof in wheelchair as Sheridan Whiteside in the first scene.)
He does not only make life hell for his hosts and everyone in the house with him – his own life is complicated by the fact that his valued secretary, Maggie Cutler, falls in love head over heels with local newspaper man Bert Jefferson and wants to leave Whiteside – something he cannot allow. So in comes attractive international actress and professional beauty Lorraine Sheldon in order to seduce Bert, who happens to be a hopeful and talented playwright as well, away, which makes Maggie unhappy.
(Julian Nimmesgern as Bert Jefferson between Hanna Prichodka as Lorraine on the left and Jasmin Rahimy as Maggie on the right. On the far right Robert Imhof as Sheridan Whiteside.)
(Karolina Panow, l., as Lorraine Sheldon, and Laura Kerling as Maggie, r.)
It takes quite a while until Whiteside learns and understands that he has gone too far. But can he still repair the harm and damage he has done? Come to the performances and find out what roles are played by three criminal convicts, a young union agitator, a very confused elderly lady, a box full of cockroaches, four penguins, a Pharao’s sarcophagus, a boy who wants to become a photographer, an incapable country doctor, a London actress who can imitate any voice, and a very little piece of ice ...
(Rafael Piper as Professor Metz who brings a box full of cockroaches as a present, l.; on the right Ben Hagemann als Bert Jefferson.)
(The other Metz was female and called Michelle de Neuville, played by Natascha Gebhardt with a fabulous French accent.)
(Elisabeth Scholz, youngest member of the group, as Whiteside’s long suffering private nurse Miss Preen.)
(Sophie Jungermayr as a female Beverly Carlton, famous composer and actress for the English stage, who showed her talents at the piano.)
(But even her patience was over, when comedian Banjo carried her away, declaring his undying love for her: Daniel Rinas in the part.)
(The mummy case – brought in by long running maid Joan, played by Jacqueline Reissenweber in all four performances. On the left Valentin Kärner as Sheridan Whiteside, then Karolina Panow as Lorraine, and Christopher Bartels as Banjo on the right.)
(Just a little later she disappeared in the case and was shipped off to Nova Scotia, Canada, by Banjo.)
(The children of the Stanley household: Vinzent Meister as Richard the camera fiend, and Katharina Renelt as love sick June.)
(June’s great love – Sandy, a union organiser played by Christopher Zimmermann.)
(Melanie Schlüchtermann played the “second” June.)
(And Eva Gemmer as Mr Stanley’s slightly mad sister Harriet.)
The man who came to dinner was played four times to packed houses who enjoyed the show as much as the players did. None of us had expected this episodic and burlesque screwball comedy to be such a hit with the audiences. We are thankful to our many sponsors and to our generous and loyal audiences. We also especially thank Hanna Prichodka who not only designed the poster for the play and built the stairs that were necessary for the upstairs downstairs effect. She moreover choreographed the two dances for a) Sheridan Whiteside and b) Lorraine Sheldon, did the hair styling, and played the role of Lorraine Sheldon herself. As assistant to the director, she carried a big part of the responsibility for this extraordinary success. |
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(Hanna Prichodka, Valentin Kärner, Jasmin Rahimy.)
Furthermore, I’d like to thank Robert Imhof and Valentin Kärner for interpreting the gigantic role of Sheridan Whiteside and thus carrying the whole play on their shoulders; and Jasmin Rahimy as treasurer and programme designer; and Karolina Panow for being my right hand as assistant.
Hans-Dieter Scholz